Album Dashboards

Album Dashboards — more accurately, Release Group Dashboards — display data for albums, EPs and singles.

Why does CONNECT call albums "Release Groups?"

“Album” is an imprecise term. We use Release Group and Release to cover every multi-track musical product: mainly albums (physical and digital), EPs and singles.

Release Group is an umbrella category. A Release Group collects different Releases (ex. original vs. expanded, remastered and other “alt” editions). From there, Releases can be broken down into Products. The Product level displays data for every barcode/UPC associated with a release (ICPN).

Release Group

↳Release

↳Product

Release Groups, Releases and Products all have their own Dashboards. But a Release Group Dashboard collects them all; that’s why we call it a Release Group.

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See album details

The top of a Release Group Dashboard displays key identifying information for an album or product. Click MORE DETAILS to see additional metadata. Release Group, Release and Product Dashboards contain different metadata fields and attributes.

Release Group Musical Rights
Release Group, Release and Product Dashboards all list topline musical rights information: Imprint, Owner and Distributor.

Rights holders can view rights details, including split claims or conflicts, for all ICPNs and ISRCs within a release group (MORE DETAILS > PRODUCT or RECORDING RIGHTS).

Release Group metadata
Release Group Dashboards display the following metadata categories.

Luminate ID
Our unique identifier for the release group (note that the Luminate ID is part of the URL)

Title and Artist Display
Official title and credited artist for the work

Collaboration, Main Artists and Featured Artists
If a release is credited to a multi-artist collaboration, these fields indicate the nature of the collaboration and the role of each artist. Some collaborations credit the artists as a unit, some credit artists equally and some designate one Main Artist.

Release Date
Date of initial album release

Imprint
Promotional label

Duration
Total length of the album

Genres
Main Genre and any additional genres

Release Type
Usually album, EP, single or video release.

Languages
All languages used on the album

Compilation Type
Indicates whether a release is a compilation (containing tracks from multiple albums or artists) and if so, what kind.

Release and Product metadata
Release and Product-level Dashboards have additional metadata categories:

Parental Warning
Explicit content labeling, if applicable

Product Format
Digital, Vinyl, DVD, etc. Format options change based on release type.

External IDs

Click the EXTERNAL IDS tab to see other identifiers associated with a release group.

At the top of the list is ICPN. ICPNs, also known as product codes or UPCs, identify unique barcodes within a release group. Digital albums, CDs, vinyl LPs, deluxe editions and retailer-specific products all have their own ICPNs.

Go to: ISRC, ICPN, ISNI: External IDs and product codes

Set data controls and view activity

By default, Release Group Dashboards show streaming data from the current week. Click the icon to see all options for Activity Type, Breakout View and other filters.

Go to: Data Controls: Activity Types, Breakout Views and filters

Once you’ve set your desired parameters, scroll down to see performance metrics over time, by location or by activity type—all the standard Dashboard displays.

Compare Releases & Songs

Scroll to the bottom of a Release Group Dashboard to drill down deeper at the song or album level. Toggle between SONGS and RELEASES to see ranked lists of songs or album editions (Releases) based on consumption. Top songs for a Release Group will appear at right as a pie chart.

Expand or collapse the grid using the gray column at left (doing so will remove the pie chart). Click the > to expand all Products grouped under a Release.

Click a Release title or Product code (ICPN) to visit a Release Dashboard or Product Dashboard.

Release Dashboards

The Release level differentiates between versions of an album (i.e. initial release vs. expanded, remastered, or remixed). If an album has been reissued with the same title and tracklist, but now includes noticeable differences such as remastering or bonus songs or a second disc of unreleased demos, each of those versions is one Release within a Release Group.

Releases include additional metadata fields, like parental warning and format, that don’t apply to the entire Release Group.

Release Dashboard details

Release-level Dashboards display most of the same information as the parent Release Group, including Release Type and musical rights.

Go to MORE DETAILS > to compare or cross-check metadata and IDs for different Releases.

Release Dashboard > Products & Songs

Scroll down to Products & Songs to view all ICPNs (products) and ISRCs (songs) within a Release.

Example Products & Songs grid:

Click any ISRC in the Product Code column to go to the Recording Dashboard.

Product Dashboards

At the Product level, you can differentiate between individual barcodes (ICPNs). Most Releases are sold in more than one format: CD, vinyl, digital album, retailer exclusive, alternative cover art, limited-edition colored vinyl, et cetera. Each of these is its own Product.

Product Dashboard details

Products are identified by ICPNs; each ICPN has its own Product Dashboard. Click the ICPN at top right to copy it to your clipboard.

Product Dashboards also display Owner and Distributor (Musical Rights) information.

Product Dashboard > Recordings

Scroll to Recordings to see all ISRCs associated with a Product.

Click an ISRC (listed in the Recording Code column) to visit its Recording Dashboard.

Release Group Dashboard FAQs

Why do you say “Release Groups” instead of “albums?”

“Album” is an imprecise term. Instead, Release Group and Release cover every multi-track musical product: albums, EPs and singles. Read more about album grouping logic here.

What's the difference between an EP and an album?

See above. An EP is a Release Type with 6 or fewer songs. Album designates a release with more than 6 songs.

How can I see the top songs on an album?

Start on a Release Group or Release Dashboard. Scroll to Releases & Songs to view items in order of consumption for your selected activity. Toggle between RELEASES and SONGS to see each.

Top songs for an album will display in pie chart or grid form. Expand the grid and remove the pie chart using the gray bar at right. Top releases and products only appear in grid form.

How can I see the top barcodes for an album?

See above. Scroll down to the Releases & Songs/Products & Recordings pane and toggle to RELEASES or PRODUCTS to see the list of individual ICPNs grouped on that Dashboard. (Release Groups list Releases first; expand those rows using > to see nested ICPNs).

How do you assign release dates to Release Groups, Releases and Products?

Album release dates for Release Groups and Releases cascade upward from the Products (ICPNs/barcodes) within the group. By default, the product with the earliest release date determines the release date for the entire Release Group. (Individual ICPNs are grouped into Releases and Release Groups based on artist linking and title matching; read more here).

We can manually correct release dates for albums, but errors in product-level metadata may still cause errors in higher-level date assignment. Providers are responsible for submitting accurate release dates at the barcode level.

How do you assign Imprints to parent Releases and Release Groups?

Imprint metadata is attached to Products. CONNECT assigns an Imprint to display on higher-level Release and Release Group Dashboards based on provider data. Read more here.

When do you reveal Dashboards for new or soon-to-be-released albums?

Release, Release Group and Product Dashboards can appear in CONNECT 5 days before release date if we’ve already ingested the metadata.

Why is there activity on a Release/Release Group that’s not out yet?

If a song on an album has already been released as a single, that activity may roll up to the album before the album release date. Check activity at the Product and ISRC level to disambiguate single and album releases.

More to know

Methodology 101: How Luminate collects, models and measures music data
Music registration: Add entries to our database

Album Dashboards

Album Dashboards

See album details

External IDs

Compare Releases & Songs

Release Dashboards

Product Dashboards

Release Group Dashboard FAQs

Why do you say “Release Groups” instead of “albums?”

“Album” is an imprecise term. Instead, Release Group and Release cover every multi-track musical product: albums, EPs and singles. Read more about album grouping logic here.

What's the difference between an EP and an album?

See above. An EP is a Release Type with 6 or fewer songs. Album designates a release with more than 6 songs.

How can I see the top songs on an album?

How can I see the top barcodes for an album?

See above. Scroll down to the Releases & Songs/Products & Recordings pane and toggle to RELEASES or PRODUCTS to see the list of individual ICPNs grouped on that Dashboard. (Release Groups list Releases first; expand those rows using > to see nested ICPNs).

How do you assign release dates to Release Groups, Releases and Products?

How do you assign Imprints to parent Releases and Release Groups?

Imprint metadata is attached to Products. CONNECT assigns an Imprint to display on higher-level Release and Release Group Dashboards based on provider data. Read more here. ​​

When do you reveal Dashboards for new or soon-to-be-released albums?

Release, Release Group and Product Dashboards can appear in CONNECT 5 days before release date if we’ve already ingested the metadata. ​​

Why is there activity on a Release/Release Group that’s not out yet?

If a song on an album has already been released as a single, that activity may roll up to the album before the album release date. Check activity at the Product and ISRC level to disambiguate single and album releases. ​​​​​​

More to know

Imprint metadata is attached to Products. CONNECT assigns an Imprint to display on higher-level Release and Release Group Dashboards based on provider data. Read more here.

Release, Release Group and Product Dashboards can appear in CONNECT 5 days before release date if we’ve already ingested the metadata.

If a song on an album has already been released as a single, that activity may roll up to the album before the album release date. Check activity at the Product and ISRC level to disambiguate single and album releases.